Students studying Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Culinary Arts at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) are completing their degrees in a school that is ranked 45th in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Congratulations to Bachelor of International Hospitality Management student Dion Wai who took the top prize in blind wine tastings, theory and practical assessments at the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year Awards held recently at the New Zealand School of Food and Wine in Auckland.

Sourcing a rare fish that lives in the Antarctic’s subzero waters is just one of the challenges that New Zealand’s first ever Bocuse d’Or team has taken on in their quest for the ultimate culinary prize.

New Zealand’s national tourism strategy needs to focus more on the role of local communities in engaging and interacting with tourists, says AUT University’s tourism and sustainability professor Simon Milne.

Joining a group of scientists, academics and educators and 12 outstanding young New Zealanders on the recent 13-day Young Blake Expedition to the subantarctic islands was a ‘huge privilege’ says AUT Professor of Marine Tourism Mark Orams.

Imagining a hotel that guests can customise has taken a team of AUT hospitality students into the final round of an international hotel design competition, to be held in Singapore later this month.

‘Kiwi DIY’ (Bachelor of International Hospitality Management students Ashlee Li, Anya Suchkova and Rose Johnstone), is the only Australasian team to make it to the finals of the Accor ‘Take Off’ competition. In Singapore they will compete against teams from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and India for the grand prize of an international holiday.

Once again, AUT University has come back from the National Culinary Fare triumphant, with a stack of medals to display.

Students and graduates from AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism programmes, Diploma in Culinary Arts (DCA), Diploma in Patisserie (DipPat) and Bachelor of International Hospitality Management (BIHM), competed in a range of classes at the national event, with plenty of gold, silver and bronze medals being awarded.

A long-standing partnership between AUT University and Lifewise is set to boost Auckland’s approach to tackling homelessness. With 85 business and community leaders participating in this year’s Lifewise Big Sleepout on AUT’s city campus over 4-5 July, this is shaping up to be the biggest year yet. But as John McCarthy explains, “AUT does far more than simply host the event; they get right behind it, with the Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack once again leading a team of AUT staff taking part.”

Tea was the name of the game, and the taste of it, when an AUT University senior lecturer and student went to Sri Lanka this month.

Senior lecturer in Culinary Arts John Kelleher and Bachelor of International Hospitality Management student Nicole Gomes spent a week in Sri Lanka with Dilmah Tea, after finishing the runners up in the 2012 Dilmah High Tea Challenge New Zealand.

AUT University student Jonny Bell is Proud to be a Chef, in more ways than one, and in one month's time he will prove it again.

Bell, who is studying a Diploma in Culinary Arts in AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, won the opportunity to cook in Melbourne in February this year, thanks to his delicious dish in the Fonterra Proud to be a Chef competition.

As we move into the summer months, our interaction with the sea and coasts will become an even more central part of our lives so it is worthwhile to reflect on the importance of our seas as part of our nation and culture according to an AUT professor.

With three days of competition, the New Zealand Culinary Fare represents the most prestigious hospitality competition in this country and one that is believed to be the largest of its sort in the world.

Busy student chefs have been mixing, baking, icing and decorating their way towards showcasing their end of year talents.

First year Diploma and Certificate Patisserie students in AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism showcased their baked offerings in a ‘Mad Hatters Tea Party’ display for friends, family and AUT staff earlier this month.